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THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book iii.

knights to leave Europe, and hasten to defendRhodes. If Daher and his Saracens were worsethan Amuratli’s Turks, yet these led byMahomet II., fresh from the success of Con-stantinople, would be undoubtedly far more tre-mendous. “After weeping over the miserabledownfall of illustrious Constantinople, as we wroteto you in other letters, this is to command youinstantly to come hither, where most urgent is thewant of your assistance. For not a day or nightelapses, without hearing of some new slaughter ofChristians by the Grand Turk and his inhumancruelties; not from vain rumour, but from our ownconfidential ambassadors, who relate what they sawwith their own eyes. So it is a certain fact thathorrors inexpiable have been already perpetrated.Expect no further letters from us, or exhortations,or commands; but the moment you receive theselines, set out at once on your journey towardsRhodes by the quickest conveyance love or moneycan procure.’’ Such is Lastic’s circular, dated 20thJanuary, 1453. 1 January must have been at theend, not beginning of the year, since Constanti-nople had been taken in the preceding months. 2

x Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Hum. cxi.—Appendix, clix.

2 On the 29th of May of 1453, says Bssio: par. ii., lib. vi.,anno 1453.